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Banfield finds increase in FIV, borreliosis

Posted May 14, 2014

Infection with feline immunodeficiency virus increased 48 percent in cats from 2009-2013, according to Banfield Pet Hospital’s State of Pet Health 2014 Report. Borreliosis increased 21 percent in dogs in the same time frame.

Banfield released this year’s edition of the annual report on April 15. Banfield Applied Research and Knowledge analyzed data collected in 2013 on nearly 2.3 million dogs and 470,000 cats cared for in Banfield’s more than 850 hospitals in 43 states, along with patient data going back to 2009.

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​Marble is among Banfield Pet Hospital’s patients who are infected with feline immunodeficiency virus. In the background are her family and Dr. Lindsay McClintock. (Photo by John Amis/Invision for Banfield Pet Hospital)

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“This year’s report features an exclusive look at the infectious and emerging diseases affecting the overall health of our pet population,” said Dr. Sandi Lefebvre, an epidemiologist and senior research manager at Banfield. “Banfield believes in preventive pet health care as a way to improve the quality and longevity of a pet’s life by reducing the risk of developing serious, costly, and sometimes fatal diseases.”

In 2013, about 1 of every 300 cats seen in Banfield hospitals was found to be infected with FIV—with the highest prevalence of infection in Oklahoma, Iowa, and Arkansas. Banfield’s research findings indicated that male cats are three times as likely as female cats to be infected with FIV.

The prevalence of infection with feline leukemia virus in cats has remained fairly stable over the past five years, decreasing overall by 5 percent to 41 cases per 10,000 cats seen in 2013. The prevalence of upper respiratory tract infection in cats increased 18 percent over the same five years, to almost 1 case per 10 cats seen in 2013. The prevalence of infestation with ear mites in cats decreased 28 percent over five years, to 233 cases per 10,000 cats seen in 2013.

In 2013, about 1 in every 130 dogs seen in Banfield hospitals was found to have borreliosis. Banfield’s research indicated that pets living in Northeastern states have the highest risk of contracting the disease.

The prevalence of canine parvovirus infection in dogs has remained fairly stable over the past five years, with 1 in every 290 dogs seen in 2013 testing positive for canine parvovirus. Giardia infection in dogs decreased 14 percent over five years, to 48 of every 10,000 dogs seen in 2013. The prevalence of kennel cough in dogs has fluctuated somewhat over five years, with almost 2 percent of dogs seen in 2013 having kennel cough.